Well...several days into 2014 and it's been a mixed bag so far. I posted some slideshows featuring (most of) my daily pieces from 2013 and my fashion illustrations for the year...and honestly, my intention was to have my 2013 digital catalog of work posted by now...but...well, it's not. I haven't started working on it yet, but I will...and I will try not to freak myself out that it isn't ready yet. It will include 365 daily pieces, 101 (!) fashion illustrations, I think over 20 canvas paintings and other msc. 'side projects' that I always seem to get myself into...probably a little over 500 pieces again this year. Wowza.

And to me...that is important. I like to work within a very specific structure. For me, its my daily pieces I create based on the Creative Every Day Challenge (sign up! Join me!!)and my fashion illustrations. This is just the way I work. I figure if I can be disciplined enough to explore an idea every day for a month...for every month out of the year...that in the end I will end up with at least a few ideas/pieces I like. Kinda madness....but it's how I have to work.

Side Note: One question I get is where do I keep all of my work. I have most of the pieces, I do sell work when folks inquire about it (...guess I should try to do more with the selling of my work...add that to the to-do list...) but yeah, I have I guess under just 1000 pieces of work at home. Dang. That sounds crazy when I just read it. I have an extensive inventory and filing system. I did not do a great job keeping up with that in 2013 so I need to sit down and do that soon before the 2014 work gets out of control...will do a separate blog post on that later this month.

So for me, the new year is all about a fresh start...just like everyone out there I guess. I am hopeful that in 2014 I can be a better version of myself, be healthier, kinder, more sparkly and of course, more creative and productive. But before I can do anything...I have to clean and get organized. As much as I love my Christmas decorations..taking them down makes me feel like I am accomplishing something in the new year. I usually take them down on New Year's Day...but this year we decided to have a pajama/do nothing day...so January 2nd it was! Decorations all taken down and put away, laundry and cleaning done...I even bought a new cart to go my next to my easel for organizing my paints...I was off to a great start! (I took pics of Scooter's reaction to me taking down our birthday cards...guess he didn't realize it was just a string the whole time!)

...and then... I discovered that my car battery was dead...(womp womp womp) but after getting a jump and a trip to Auto Zone I was back in business, which for me meant visiting with my friends up in Palm Beach county after staying down here in Hollywood all week, and let me be the first to say that I am a new fan of 'staycationing'! I needed that!

One thing that my friends know...I am really into organization...like, as much as art. I love organizing, especially closets. So on Friday after meeting my friend Jen for coffee I headed over to see Giselle to help her with her closet...it went something like this...

The transformation of Giselle's closet.

I was feeling accomplished as I drove to my next destination...I had scheduled some time to sketch with my art friend JaFleu in West Palm Beach...and along the way...more car woes. So...a trip to Advanced Auto Parts...then to Firestone...and, well...I had to cancel my plans.

But here is where it gets weird. Friday was my nephew Noah's birthday. He lives in NC, so obviously I wasn't able to see him on his birthday. When I got to Firestone there was a little boy there with his mother and he sat with me and drew and made a cool snowflake while we waited. He loves Spiderman and the Miami Heat and art, just like my nephew...and when we had been working together a little while I found out his mother is from where I went to high school...and when I asked him what his name was (I always forget to ask people's names, I just start talking)...his name was...Noah.

So, I didn't get to draw with my friend JaFleu (I will take a raincheck on that, sir!) but I met this cool little kid and named Noah that would not have happened if I had not been there.

...and...my car wasn't ready three hours later...so lucky for me I had was able to have a night with these crazy ladies (left). Totally not planned, but awesome and much needed.

...but just another one of those things...here I am making this tight schedule to go here and there, and see this person and that person...but all plans were put on hold and it turned out for the best. (Except for the money I had to spend to fix my car...of course)

And another thing that wouldn't have happened- the piece of art I made at Jessie's Saturday morning. Jess has been working on the magazine non-stop and I was just really overcome with a feeling of gratitude that I am a part of it all...so I made a piece of art for her, kind of to say thank you...for believing in my and my art...for giving me a chance to share with others and hopefully inspire and motivate them...and just a thank you for all those hours she spends in front of the computer, obsessing over every detail of every page of Art Hive Magazine. The piece is one of the ladies I like to draw in Jessie's likeness (notice the pink hair!). The background and details are all from a copy of the first Art Hive Magazine, the background is the cover with layers of paint washes, texture and writing. The halo behind the figure and the details in the dress are all made from the text of my first Artin' with da' Muse article in that first issue.

And I don't know if this piece of art would have been created if my car had not broken down...if Sof had not picked me up, if I didn't have dinner with the girls, if I did not have stayed over at Jessie's and woke up and started making art in her studio while she slept.

Funny how things happen. And this will be the piece that I am submitting to the Square Show at Bird and Bear Gallery, that way everyone knows how awesome my friend(s) are. Hmmm....I just got an idea...more on that later...